MLB Rumors

With Austin Jackson hurt and Andy Dirks out of the lineup, Tigers second baseman Omar Infante took over the leadoff spot Sunday against the Rangers.

"When you lead him off, you're leading him off because he's your only guy in that situation," manager Jim Leyland told MLB.com. "Normally I wouldn't have him leading off but, with the situation we're in, if you look at the lineup, who else would you lead off? ... The only other guy you'd think about is [Avisail] Garcia and I don't want to do that."

Infante finished 2 for 5 with two runs scored in an 11-8 defeat. He is hitting .313 with three home runs and 14 RBI in 144 at-bats.

Rangers starter Derek Holland endured a rough outing but did not factor in the decision of Sunday's 11-8 victory over the Tigers.

Holland, who made his ninth start of the season, surrendered a three-run home run to Miguel Cabrera in the third and a solo home run to Cabrera again in the fifth for his only damage of the night. The left-hander was charged with four runs and eight hits over 4 2/3 innings of work. He struck out six and walked three.

Holland has allowed four runs or more three of his last five starts. He is scheduled to make his next start Saturday at Seattle. He has not allowed a run in his last 16 2/3 innings pitched at Safeco Field.

Tigers starting pitcher Doug Fister, who allowed two runs and struck out seven his last time out, was hit hard but did not factor in the decision of Sunday's 11-8 loss to the Rangers.

Fister, who made his ninth start of the season, surrendered a sacrifice fly in the second and four runs in the fourth, including a two-run double to Adrian Beltre. The right-hander was charged with five runs and nine hits over 4 2/3 innings of work. He struck out three and walked one.

Fister has allowed 10 runs -- nine earned -- over his last 7 2/3 innings of work away from home. He is scheduled to make his next start Saturday at home against the Twins. He went 2-2 with a 3.00 ERA in four starts against Minnesota last season.

Red Sox second baseman Dustin Pedroia enjoyed a big day at the plate as he unleashed his second home run of the season Sunday afternoon against the Twins.

Pedroia launched a two-run home run in the ninth inning to pad the lead for the Red Sox. He also drove in a run on a fielder's choice and finished 2 for 5 with two runs scored and three RBI in a 5-1 victory.

Pedroia has reached base safely in his last 14 games. He is hitting .446 (25 for 56) with two homers and nine RBI over that span. He has a .343/.432/.442 slash line 172 at-bats.

Padres outfielder Will Venable went deep for the sixth time this season during Sunday's series finale against the Nationals.

Venable uncorked a solo home run in the fifth off starter Dan Haren and doubled in a run in the seventh. He finished 2 for 5 with a run scored and two RBI in a 13-4 victory.

Venable is hitting .217 (5 for 23) with two doubles, a home run and three RBI in his last five games played. He has a .237/.308/.441 in 118 at-bats.

Padres shortstop Everth Cabrera enjoyed another productive performance as he stole a base in his fifth consecutive game Sunday afternoon against the Nationals.

Cabrera singled in the first and the seventh. He stole two bases and finished 2 for 6 with two runs scored and two RBI in a 13-4 victory. He leads the majors with 17 stolen bags.

Cabrera has a .257/.342/.351 slash line with two homers and 15 RBI in 171 at-bats.

Padres outfielder Kyle Blanks reached base twice as he launched his third home run of the season Sunday afternoon against the Nationals.

Blanks took starter Dan Haren deep for a two-run home run in the fifth inning. He finished 1 for 3 with a walk, two runs scored and two RBI in a 13-4 victory.

Blanks is hitting .308 (4 for 13) with two homers and five RBI in his last four games.

Padres second baseman Jedd Gyorko enjoyed his third multi-hit performance in his last five games Sunday afternoon against the Nationals.

Gyorko doubled in a run in the first and singled in one more in the fifth. He finished 2 for 3 with two walks, two runs scored and two RBI in a 13-4 victory.

Gyorko is hitting .421 (8 for 19) with six runs scored, one home run and two RBI in his last five games. He has a .272/.339/.424 slash line in 151 at-bats.

Padres first baseman Yonder Alonso, who had a multi-hit game Saturday, kept swinging a hot bat as he launched his sixth home run of the season Sunday afternoon against the Nationals.

Alonso took Drew Storen deep in the eighth inning for a solo home run. He added a single and a double as he finished 3 for 4 with three runs scored and two RBI in a 13-4 victory.

He is hitting .379 (11 for 29) with two home runs and four RBI in his last eight games played.

Nationals third baseman Ryan Zimmerman enjoyed another solid day at the plate as he launched his third home run of the season.

Zimmerman took starter Andrew Cashner deep for a two-run home run in the fourth inning. He singled in a run in the seventh and finished 2 for 4 with a run scored and three RBI in a 13-4 defeat.

Zimmerman has gone 4 for 12 with two homers and three RBI in his last three games since snapping a 14-game homerless streak. He is hitting .280/.371/.439 with three homers and 22 RBI.